For the past year, Mr Gerald Lim, 37, has been ferrying pupils to their primary schools in his Toyota Prius every weekday morning.
The full-time private-hire car driver is among 60 to 70 drivers engaged by Lylo, a Singapore car rental and concierge company, for its school transport service.
It costs between $20 and $50 per trip for every child, depending on distance and the type of vehicle used.
If there are other children living close enough requesting the service to the same school, the company can carpool them. This brings the price down to between $8 and $15 a trip for each child.
This means parents could spend anywhere between $160 and $300 a month for one-way carpooled trips for their children to or from school. The monthly fee is paid in advance, after the route and rate have been confirmed with Lylo.
In comparison, school bus services can cost up to $240 a month for a one-way trip of no more than 4km from the school. Those living farther will be charged more if the bus operator can accommodate them.
About 300 students have signed up for Lylo's school transport service in 2025, the company's spokesman told The Straits Times. Around 40 per cent of them are primary school pupils, with the rest being students from international schools.
As far as possible, the firm assigns the same driver for the trips. Parents are kept updated via messaging service WhatsApp when their child has been picked up or has reached their destination.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 01, 2025 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 01, 2025 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
No new tariffs on Inauguration Day, but threats loom
Trump suggests using tariffs as leverage for policies as he signs slew of executive orders
Elites at Davos economic forum grapple with realities of Trump's return
Despite a sense of uncertainty, there's desire for opportunities to cut deals with US leader
Could TikTok Be China's Bargaining Chip With US?
Not selling app to Americans could help Beijing assert stance against 'US bullying'
Anti-climate measures a setback for the world, and the US: Experts
US President Donald Trump launched multiple fronts in his anti-climate action campaign on Jan 21 by announcing his country's withdrawal from the United Nations Paris Agreement, pledging to maximize US oil and gas production, and vowing to roll back support for wind farms and electric vehicles.
6 Singaporeans taken to hospital after tour bus accident in Norway
A recent trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights turned awry for Mr Ng and his wife after their tour bus veered off the road and ended up partially submerged in a lake.
South Korean leader denies wrongdoing at impeachment trial
Yoon brands himself a firm believer in free democracy as he defends his actions
16 Killed in Landslide Triggered by Heavy Rain in Central Java
At least 16 people have been killed and five more are missing following a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Indonesia's Central Java province, local police and disaster officials said on Jan 21.
New national scheme aims to build healthy habits in children
Grow Well SG seeks to empower families to ensure kids eat, sleep, learn, exercise well
Stricter guidelines to shape children's device usage habits
No screen use or exposure to background screens for those below 18 months old
News analysis Spared for now, a wary Beijing waits
As Vice-President Han Zheng and Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng watched in a corner of the Capitol rotunda while Mr Donald Trump was sworn in, China was hoping that their presence in Washington would signal a proactive reset of the tumultuous relationship.
